12th Annual PILA Auction Raises $97,000

Seattle - Exceeding last year's proceeds by $30,000 the UW School of Law Public Interest Law Association (PILA) raised $97,000 at its twelfth annual fundraising auction February 2, 2007. At the auction, UW law school alumni Hank Balson ('99) and Lissa Kaufman ('96) were inducted into the PILA Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame celebrates select members of the public interest legal community who are renowned for their commitment to public service and for their seemingly tireless advocacy.

A majority of the proceeds from the auction will provide grants to UW law students who devote their summer to pro bono legal work on behalf of underrepresented people and causes. Another portion of the proceeds will be contributed to a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). In February, the Washington State Senate and House Committees on Higher Education passed bills supporting the creation of a LRAP. The bills (SB 6039, HB 2024) currently sit before the Senate Ways and Means Committee and House Appropriations Committee.

Hoops with Brandon Roy Helps Future Law Students

UW alumni are invited to an afternoon of basketball with Portland Trail Blazer and UW Husky Brandon Roy at the Trail Blazer's practice facility in Portland March 17 from 1:15 - 5 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to meet and greet Roy, as well as bid on one of four chances to play D-A-W-G (a Husky twist to the game of H-O-R-S-E) with him. Admission includes one complimentary ticket to the Trail Blazers v. Supersonics game (at Portland) March 18.

Event to Honor Professor Bill Rodgers

UW School of Law will celebrate the first 40 years of Professor Bill Rodgers' teaching and scholarship at the UW April 20-21, 2007 with a conference, titled "Of Salmon, the Sound, and the Shifting Sands of Environmental Law — A National Perspective." The event will feature leading scholars, experts, colleagues, and friends of Rodgers from across the country to celebrate and discuss the direction and future of environmental law.

Professor Gregory Hicks selected as interim dean of UW School of Law

SEATTLE - Provost Phyllis Wise has announced that Gregory A. Hicks, professor and associate dean for faculty and academic administration in the University of Washington School of Law, has been appointed as interim dean, effective June 16.

"Professor Hicks will provide a welcome continuity as we launch the search for the next dean of the UW School of Law," said Wise. "President Emmert and I would like to express our appreciation to Greg for his willingness to assume the responsibility of the deanship at this critical time."

Hicks has been a member of the School of Law's faculty since 1984. He teaches courses in property, water law, and public land and natural resources law.